Almost Convinced - Jeep Rental in STT

Bumblebee2 · Post by **Bumblebee2** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:36 pm

We've always rented our jeep in STJ but now we're thinking about renting in STT. For those of you who have done both which do you prefer?

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:46 pm

We prefer St. Thomas. We REALLY like the Constantines who run the business. You can't possibly get better, friendlier service anywhere, unless you're Barack Obama, maybe

They're waiting for you at the door of the airport and you sign paperwork and leave in 10 minutes. Return is just as simple. Vehicles are brand new. They have an automobile club tag on the keys in case you should have a (highly unlikely) break down. They return phone calls and emails immediately. We then do a big shop on STT and have started to even drive around STT a bit, and get to know that island.
I'm renting from Courtesy on STJ, this trip, because it's my first time as the driver, and I'm afraid to back onto the car barge

If we rent on STJ in the future, we'll be going back to Courtesy. Their service is also very good and friendly.

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:22 pm

mindehankins wrote:We prefer St. Thomas. We REALLY like the Constantines who run the business. You can't possibly get better, friendlier service anywhere, unless you're Barack Obama, maybe
They're waiting for you at the door of the airport and you sign paperwork and leave in 10 minutes. Return is just as simple. Vehicles are brand new. They have an automobile club tag on the keys in case you should have a (highly unlikely) break down. They return phone calls and emails immediately. We then do a big shop on STT and have started to even drive around STT a bit, and get to know that island.
I'm renting from Courtesy on STJ, this trip, because it's my first time as the driver, and I'm afraid to back onto the car barge If we rent on STJ in the future, we'll be going back to Courtesy. Their service is also very good and friendly.

Just to clarify, she's talking about Amalie Car Rental....they are the only STT company that provides the type of service she described

GotToGetAway · Post by **GotToGetAway** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:30 pm

I would first ask what your travel situation is that would make you want to change? Do you have a large group? Do you want to shop at Cost U Less to stock up for a long trip? Do you want to be able to go to STT during your trip? Do you have young children and don't want them in a passenger van on the streets of St. Thomas? Do the benefits for you outweigh the potential negative of a break down on STJ?

Midas · Post by **Midas** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:21 am

Our first 3 or 4 trips we rented on St John. Then we decided to try renting on St Thomas with Amalie and found that they are by far the best! Most convenient, best vehicles (brand new) and they are just wonderful people to work with! If you choose to try renting on St Thomas I would highly recommend that you rent from them...

Bumblebee2 · Post by **Bumblebee2** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:34 am

Thank you to everyone for the informative posts. Did anyone reading this ever need service to their STT automobile while on STJ? If so, what was your experience? Thanks again for the great info and advice.

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:36 pm

My parents had an issue with a Budget vehicle they rented on STT. First, the car smelled SO BAD! It was hard to ride in it and not vomit. Then they got a flat tire. We've been to STJ 10 times and never had a flat, and they got a flat on their first trip! Anyway, since they no longer had a spare, and the smell was so bad, they decided they wanted a new Jeep. Budget met them at the ferry dock, on the STJ side, with a replacement.

PaminMaine · Post by **PaminMaine** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:53 pm

I was trying to decide this myself. I called Amalie last week to see if they had any jeeps for March. She told me that if we had a problem we could call the (?)" auto something or other "on STJ island. It sort of sounded like an AAA type business. I didn't pursue any further information. You might want to find out what she was talking about. For what its worth, she was very pleasant and was very attentive to our correspondence. She was at the airport and asked me to email her my request, and she answered it almost immediately.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:57 am

We've been renting on STT for the last five years, after ten years of renting on STJ. For us, the vacation starts as soon as we hit the jeep and get to enjoy the sites at our own pace. We started renting from Dependable and then switched to Amalie. Amalie is great for all the reasons mentioned: Airport pickup and dropoff, new clean vehicles in great shape.

Down side of renting on STT?
- If you get in late or have to leave early the car barges may not fit your schedule.
- I've never had a need to park at a rental car lot, but some see that as a major feature of renting on STJ. Our Halloween trip we got a spot at the DMV every time, never had to park 150 feet further in the enormous parking lot by the ferry dock.
- On island service for vehicles... I've never had great service when I've had car problems with on-island rental companies... but a new car from Amalie solves a lot of service problems.

Cheers, RickG

Bumblebee2 · Post by **Bumblebee2** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 10:27 am

Does anybody know of a good link for driving directions from the STT airport to the car barge terminal at Red Hook?

Thanks again for all the useful info

Love the STJ Forumites

Puddlejumper · Post by **Puddlejumper** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 11:13 am

Google Maps is your friend.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=red+ ... ra=ls&z=15

Google maps takes a northen route, I usually drive on the southern route, which is Rte 30. The route Google Maps takes you on go by Kmart and Cost-U-Less.

And for those that don't know, the roads are not well marked. You need to print a map and take with or use Google Maps on your smart phone.

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 11:38 am

Bumblebee2 wrote:Does anybody know of a good link for driving directions from the STT airport to the car barge terminal at Red Hook?

Many have found Pia's driving hints useful... this post was in 2007; I do not know if there have been changes since then.
http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/virgi ... ook#p59027

Pia wrote:OK buckle up and we are on our way

1) Exit the airport and take a right at the traffic light.

2) Continue on that road past downtown CA, past Havensite, past the cruise ships. The road will then start to climb up.

3) You will come to a stop sign - bear left. Now about this stop sign....you will notice alot of people don't see it and don't stop as it is behind a tree/bush (unless it has been recently trimmed) If you miss it and don't turn/bear left you will end up at the Marriott hotel so just turn around go back to the stop sign (much easier to spot from this direction) and turn right.

4) Stay on this road and eventually you will come to another stop sign at a T interstection. Turn right. The "bridge to nowhere" will be on your right at that T intersection

5) Stay on that road and you will arrive in Red Hook and the car ferry will be on your right

Travel time approx 30-35 mins on a "normal" traffic day, but if there are alot of cruise ships in, and you are trying to get through downtown CA between 4pm and 5:30pm (they are all returning to the ships and people are also leaving from work) it could take alot longer.

There are a few other routes to take but I have found this to be the easiest for first timers

Hope this helps everyone

Pia

usvi-on-line